The weather remained crisp and cold in Germany, and here David and I stand in front of our house in Monzelfeld prior to driving to Nürnberg to see the famous Christmas Market; and as the Berlin Wall had only fallen the month before – we saw our first E. German Trabi on the autobahn along the way.

Nürnberg or “Nuremberg” in English, is a modern city in central Bavaria with a population of over half a million people, and we stayed in a hotel in the city and took the U-Bahn Metro system to get into the city center to see the world famous Christmas Market.

Each year some 2 million people from around the world visit Nürnberg’s Christkindlesmarkt with its colorful red and white striped stalls organized in rows across the central market square; and here folks stroll through the city near the city’s central market square.

David stands on the edge of this empty fountain in the cold of a December day in Nürnberg, while a tower from the original medieval walled city stands in the distance.

A fanciful water fountain in the city kept our attention for a while with its unusual sculptures of both people and animals, and here David sits on the back of a goat that is bounding out of the fountain.

The sculptures of a whimsical trumpet player and a nude woman seem to be supported by a giant conch shell and the surf that rises up behind them.

David sits on the wing of a giant pelican that supports an entire family on its back, extending its long neck and bill to grasp what is most likely a fish.

All the great cities of the world like Nürnberg are full of majestic buildings and wonderful public works of art, often incorporating fountains – which helps to make these cities an attraction for people to see and visit from around the world.

As if playing a character straight from the pages of a children’s story, David rides the head of a goose – suspended in midair as if flying straight out of the fountain.

The medieval Gothic church of St. Lorenz, towers over the red and white stalls that fill the downtown market square where the world famous Christmas Market or “Christkindlesmarkt” in German – welcomes the world as the “Christmas City” from late November through Christmas Eve every year.

The St. Lorenz church is a wonder of medieval Gothic architecture and was constructed between the years 1270 and 1477 – here is the intricate main entrance with the large round stained glass window above it.

If you enlarge this picture you can better see the stained glass windows and the altar decorated for Christmas with two lit Christmas trees flanking either side of the altar.

Close to some 200 market stalls are organized in neat rows across the market square, filled with every authentic Christmas craft and ornament that the vendors have made available to purchase at the Christkindlesmarkt in Nürnberg, Germany.

Once the sun begins to set and the lights of the Christmas city illuminate, the Nürnberg Christkindlesmarkt experience comes to life for visitors from around the world.

Along with a sea of red and white vendor tents arranged in rows across the market square, there are also these proper half-timbered houses set up as part of the Christkindlesmark as individual stores as well.

We strolled through the Christkindlesmarkt and took in all the sights and smells of the marketplace – hot spiced wine or “Glühwein” and every traditional delightful taste experience one could ever want.

The traditional aspects of the authentic medieval city are everywhere to be seen, and here this wrought iron sign advertising the wares of a Gold and Silversmith hangs over the sidewalk.

This cropped image of a medieval stone tower looms in the background in the shadows of the night, reminding the visitor to Nürnberg of its medieval roots.

Everywhere you look there are details and images of everything that your imagination would expect from the city that is called the Christmas City during the season of Advent.

A literal smorgasbord and feast for the eyes in terms of Christmas decorations and items for purchase, the selection is really quite amazing across the entire market square.

’Life, Love and the Human Condition’ by Mark D. Jones

Welcome to my world! This blog is a place to capture all of the creative areas of my life into one spot that you can visit any time you like, and allow you to pause for a moment during the course of your day. You can see in the "categories section" the many creative interests that I have in my life - which I add to on a regular basis. Join with me in pondering the meaning of, "Life, Love and the Human Condition." So grab a cup of coffee or tea and spend a few minutes with me in my world...you may find it interesting and want to stay awhile! Enjoy!